Auto thermometer



July 27, 1926. 1,593,645

W. BAUER AUTO THERMQMETEK.

Filed Dec- 2. 1922 INVENTOR Mod/UN ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED stares l? A Ti E i F l WALTER BAUER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO PYRENE MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTO TI-IERMOMETER.

Application filed December 2, 1922. Serial No. 604,509.

This invention relates to temperature indicating devices and in certain of its aspects to devices adapted to indicate the temperature of the cooling water of automobiles.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described of rugged and durable construction and reliable and efficient in operation.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described which will be easily readable under all conditions of light and which will cause such conspicuous indication when dangerous temperatures are attained that especial attention will be called thereto.

A further object is to provide a device 1 of the character described in which a metallic thermal element is operated bv conduction from a portion within the radiator.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

In the operation of automobiles. it be comes desirable to keep the critical conditions of operation under constant observation to the end, that the engine may be run efficiently and the car economically and satisfactorily. One of the critical factors in automobile operation is the temperature of the water of the cooling system, since the engine operates most efficiently, normally, at a temperature close to the boiling point of water, whereas it is undesirable that the water be allowed to boil since under such circumstances, there is no assurance that the temperature of the cylinder will keep within bounds. The present invention is particu larly applicable to the indication of the temperature of the cooling water in order that the driver may assure himself that the motor is operating efficiently, but not overheatmg.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying; drawing in which:

Figure 1, is a front elevation of the device;

duce the maximum effect upon the ther1no sensitive element 5, it is preferable to subject the element directly to the action of the coutents of the radiator, and to this end there is provided a plug 6 which is a portion of the thern'1osensitive element and is arranged to fit into and close the lower end of the tubu lar member 4: as shown at 7. This construc tion not only subjects the element directly to the heat but also permits the entire ther mo-sensitive element to be inserted into and withdrawn. from the instrument through the tube 4. I prefer to make this thermo-sensitive element in the form of two bi-metallic strips 8 extending; upwardly in parallel but opposed relation, that is in such relation that heat changes tend to make them bend in opposite directions, toward and from each other, and these strips are attached to and preferably integral with the plug 6 as shown at 9. These strips are preferably coated with a noncorrodinp; metal such as lead.

The casino; 1. has a dial 10 over which is arranged to move a semaphore arm 11, mounted on a spindle 12 coaxial with the casing.

with gear segments 14:, operated by the bimetallicstrips 8.

The casing" 1 preferably comprises an outer ring 15, having inset bosses 16 on which the dial 10 may be retained by screws 17, and to which other portions of the instrument may be attached.

A spider 18 may be attached to the bosses 16 on the side opposite the dial, by screws 19, and this spider may be provided with a central pin 20 and lateral pins 21 equally spaced above and below pin'20. Thepin 20 fits into and serves as a pivot for the spindle 12 while the pins 21 similarly serve as For the operation of the spindle it is provided with a pinion 13, which meshes pivots for the gear segments 14 No means are required for retaining the spindle in place as it may be kept in place by the glass to be later described, but: L shaped arms" 22 are pivoted in the spider is mpssitien to'be swung into place to engage the ends of the pins 21 after the gear segments are-in phi-re.-

Links 24. pivoted in the upper ends of the bi-metallic strips 8 are pivotal-1y connected at their other ends to the gear segments It as for example by having a portion 25' bent down at right angles' to roject through a hole 26 in the gear segments By this coir struction it will be obvious that movemei' ft of the bi-metalhc strips toward each other will cai se the links 24- to operate the gear segments 14 by reason of the fact that these gear segments engage the pinion 16 upon opposite sides thereof it will be obvious that the two bi-met'allic' strips CO OjfiCl ate to cause rotation of the pinion, while at the same time the parts may bereadily disassembled by springing the portions 25 out of engagement with the gear segments.-

For the purpose of making the indications rominent, I' prefer to arrange the semaphore arm 11 so't hat during conditions of normal. operation it shall be substantially horizontal but that under conditions of excessive temperatureit shall'rise to a vertical position and I- have disc vered that in order to getthe greatest visibility under conditions of varying light the semaphore arm should present a flat black surface over a'dull silver dial. A glass 28 is preferably provided both for the front and rear of the instrument which may be retained in place by bezels 29 held by screws 30 engaging the boss.

The instrument may be attached to a radiator by any convenient means as for example, by a nut 31 and lockwasher 32 adapt ed to engage the threaded projection 3,

The face of the instrumentopposite to" the dial-may beprovided with the name of" the instrument or may be'ornaniented in any convenient way.

Itdesired positive sto s may be provided to limit the" movement oi the device-in both directions. For example one of the bimetallic elements may be'a'rranged'tostop against the side ofthe casing to afford a sto in one direction while one'ofthem may be arranged to stop against't he lower gear segment to furnish a stop in the other direc'tion.

By the aboveconstruction-it will be obvious that there is provided an instrument which issimple to manufacture and reliable eiliclentflii its operation;

Having describedmy invention, what I claim as and desire-to secure by Letters Patent isi 1. A device of'the character described, comprising in combinationa tube adaptedto project" within anauton'iobile radiator, a

pair oi elements constituting. substantiall parallel bi-metallic strips in opposed relzr ti'on, means whereby they are attached to geth er and \vhereby the tube is closed, indicating means operated by parts for indicating the thermal conditions to which said bi-metallic strips are sub jected. 7

2. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a pair of elements including opposed substantially parallel bi-metallic strips caclr having one end fixed, a spindle, supports for said spindle, a pinion upon said spindle, a pair of gear segments adapted to engage opposite sides of said pinion and connected to said bi-m'e'tall-ic strips, means upon said spindle for indicating the movement thereof, and means adapted to support said bi-m'etatllic strips in the interior oi an automobile radiator.

3. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a pair of substantially parallel opposed bi-m'etallic strips, attached toeach other atthebottom', a spindle having a semaphore arm thereon and carrying a pinion, a pair of gear segments adapted to engage opposite sides of said pinion' means connecting each of said segments to one of said strips.

4. A device of the character described, comprising in combinati-on'a tube adapted to be projected within a radiator; a pair of himetallic elements; plug of heat-conducting material to which said elem'ents'are attached, said plug being adapted to close the lower end of said tube; a spindle'having a pinion thereon; a pair of gear segments disposed above and below said spindle to mesh with said pinion; supports for said'spindle and gear segments and links connecting the free ends of saidbi-met'allic elements'to said gear segments for the operation thereof.

5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a tube adapted to be s-upported'within an automobile radiator; a plug for closing the lower end of said tube; a pair of bi-metallic elements attached to said "plug; a" pin; a support for said pin; a spindle rotatably mounted on said pin and having a pinion thereon; pins'spaced one on each side of said first mentioned pin; a pair of gear segments removably mounted for rotation one on each 'of'said second mentioned pins to engage said pinion; links pivoted to said bi-metallic elements and re-' movably engaging said 'gear' segments, said plug and bimetallic elements and said links being removable through said tube.

6; A device of the character described comprising in combination, a tube adapted to be projected within an automobile radiator, a thermal elementcomprising a pair of opposed bi-metallic strips located within said 'tube, an'indicating means, and means for operatively connecting said thermal elesai d projecting ment to said indicating means, said thermal element and said connecting means being removable through said tube.

7. A temperature indicating device for use upon an automobile radiator, having a stem adapted to extend Within the cooling Water in the interior of said radiator, a pair of thermal elements situated Within said stem and arranged to move in opposite directions in response to heat, an indicating device, and similar but oppositely disposed trains of mechanism connecting said thermal elements With said indicating device, whereby the opposite movement of said thermal elements in response to heat efiects a similar movement of said indicating device, and whereby the effect of jars upon either thermal element or upon either train of mechanism is neutralized, by the opposite efiect upon the other element or mechanism.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

WALTER BAUER. 

